Prius annoyances

Yup! This misconception is still very strong in the UK. I’ve seen people with modern vehicles with the A/C option, driving around in winter and on damp rainy days with foggy windows, not realising that the A/C could completely clear all this within a few moments.

Indeed, many stupidly believe the A/C is only meant to be used in summery hot weather - and shockingly, won’t even use it then, as they don’t want to wear it out .

Many seem completely unaware that NOT running the A/C on a regular basis is one of the primary cause of system failures.
I’ve done my bit educating friends about the amazing dehumidifier capabilities of the A/C. Even on damp winter or rainy days, the A/C does an amazing job defogging ALL the windows, giving you much needed visibility.
Turn up the temperature if it’s cold - the A/C will still dehumidify the interior of the vehicle and banish window / windscreen fogging if it becomes a danger.


iPhone 6s +

 

The design is hardly the primary reason. As noted in the article, the entire market has changed since the first Prius was introduced.

 

At 15 degrees ambient (I assume that is 15F), there is very little humidity in the air, since the dewpoint cannot be above 15F. No conditioning of the air is required, it's already less humid than any air the air conditioner will produce since the air conditioner coils aren't 15 degrees at the surface. If you just open the vents and bring in the cold air (and add heat as required), then the windows will clear almost instantly.

 

At least the Prius high-mid-dash placement is a closer angular distance to an external view that us already in the driver's external scan pattrn, than is the common low-behind-steering-wheel placement of many cars. As such, it is an improvement over them.

While focal distance is irrelevant to most young folks -- as a teenager, my focus distance could adjust as fast as my eyes could change direction -- it becomes important for us older folks, where focus speed becomes significantly slower than direction change. The mid-dash placement is farther away then behind the steering wheel, thus requires less focus adjustment time when switching back and forth between external road scenes.

 

That condition ends the instant humans enter the cabin and start breathing inside it. Mammal respiration expels a lot of water vapor, which then tends to condense on the inside of those 15F windows.

Then, after the cabin air is warmed, it can hold a lot more uncondensed moisture. But the windows in contact with exterior air still stay cold, thus continue to be condensing surfaces.

In some weather conditions, dry exterior air will clear the inside almost instantly. But those of us experiencing near-saturated outside air frequently find that the human-added moisture is enough to ensure continued inside condensation unless the AC is turned on. This is usually a greater issue at 35F than at 15F.

 

I was specifically referring to the 15 degree condition. I suspect (but haven't confirmed) that at those temps the air conditioner will probably not even run - most cars have a low temperature shutoff for the A/C.

 

I didn't catch that before. Farther forward, higher up (above the steering wheel), and straight ahead. You might say that I could get behind that if it really would fit. I agree completely. However, what we have is, in my opinion (and apparently that of a lot of people here on PC), the next best thing and it's so much better than traditional that I can't make myself fuss about it. Your idea would be the next logical step, though.

Edit to add: The hidden possible benefit of the present location is that it might help people get their eyes moving side to side and maybe eventually discover scanning so they don't get killed so often. Naw. I'm just dreamin'.

 

As a teenager, my focal distance was to wherever my girlfriend's sweater was...

 

NiMH is more durable when kept to a narrow state of charge range. Honda wasn't sticking to that range, and that caused the issues.
Li-ion's usable charge range for maximum life is twice that NiMH's. Honda had no problems with Li-ion equipped hybrids. Presumably they learned their lesson on pushing the battery too hard with NiMH.
The only Li-ion plug in with issues of note is the Leaf, and that's because of inadequate cooling.

With a mirror, the gen 2 Prius put the speedometer at the base of the windshield.

 

You are aware your Prime is Li-ion?

 

We've had many Honda hybrids (every other year since way back) and the 2012 was the first using Li-ion. With loads of miles (still in the family as we've passed them on to the kids & grand kids) none ever had an issue with the battery. Honda did have a software update for the older NiMH hybrids, essentially detuning the IMA system so it uses assist less often to reduce the load and stress on the battery.

http://pop.h-cdn.co/assets/cm/15/06/54d15050a5188_-_A10-034.pdf

One of the reasons we did not even consider earlier Prii was the lack of a Li-ion battery (and dear wife thought the Aztec like styling was beyond "fugly"). YMMV

 

I can actually see my speed quicker in my Prime than I can my motorhome. My analog gauge on my motorhome is usually hiding the speed because of the steering wheel. I have to move my head around sometimes. Where in my Prime, it’s just a quick glance to the right and then back forward again.